LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sign Up L.A., the coalition of business groups, nonprofit organizations, community groups and sign companies that supports the reasonable use of digital signs in Los Angeles, today released a new white paper, "The Public Safety Digital Signs Gap," highlighting the real impact that digital signs in 43 states and 450 localities around the country are making in support of law enforcement and other public safety efforts by enabling messages to quickly and efficiently reach large audiences with important and potentially life-saving messages – further evidence that Los Angeles must act to prevent a public safety digital signs gap. Also today, in further highlighting the white paper's findings, a new FBI alert began running on digital signs in Los Angeles. The alert is seeking information and help from the public to track down a dangerous individual who has used an AK47 to rob banks in Southern California, Washington state and Idaho. This new FBI alert is a real-time example of the critical public safety benefits digital signs provide to the Los Angeles community.

The new FBI alert running on digital signs in Los Angeles requests the public's assistance in identifying and apprehending a fugitive wanted for armed robbery and for shooting a Chino Police Officer. The fugitive is considered armed and dangerous, and the FBI is seeking information to apprehend this dangerous criminal as quickly as possible.

Today's FBI alert is another clear indicator that digital signs are an important tool for law enforcement and other public safety agencies to rapidly reach large audiences with real-time information. In the new Sign Up L.A. white paper, the coalition shows how, in Southern California, the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO) and Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Services have turned to digital billboards to enhance efforts to protect public safety. Digital signs provide the Los Angeles community with numerous safety benefits, such as stopping and combating crime, support during natural disasters, and emergency traffic alerts. Sign Up L.A. supports a reasonable public policy to protect these public safety benefits for the Los Angeles community.

"Digital signs are a key contributor to the public safety of Los Angeles and to every community where these signs operate because they can immediately transmit critical information to the community," said Lee Ann Muller, president of Clear Channel Outdoor – SoCal and member of Sign Up L.A. "The Los Angeles community can continue receiving these important and sometimes life-saving public safety benefits by working together with city leaders to develop a reasonable policy that allows digital signs to continue to support such things as FBI alerts and AMBER Alerts."

Some of the key findings of, "The Public Safety Digital Signs Gap" include:

Digital signs have supported law enforcement and public safety in Los Angeles in three specific areas 1) Stopping and combating crime; 2) Natural disaster preparation and response; and 3) Traffic alerts;

Digital signs have been used effectively nationwide to stop crime and save lives;

Public-private digital sign partnerships benefit public safety;

Digital signs are widely supported by the public as a public safety tool and endorsed by law enforcement and city officials;

Many of the country's largest cities have ordinances that codify public safety uses of digital signs, but Los Angeles does not.

The white paper released today is the first in a series of three that look at the "Digital Gap" that will impact the city of Los Angeles should progress not be made in implementing new digital sign public policy. These white papers are designed to support the development of public policies that will allow for the reasonable use and location of digital signs in Los Angeles. The full white paper can be found through the above hyperlink or on the Sign Up L.A. website www.SignUpLA.com and on the group's Facebook page www.facebook.com/SignUpLA.

The Sign Up L.A. coalition recognizes the benefit of digital signs and has come together to support the development of policies that will ensure the timely communication of public safety, traffic, and natural disaster alerts, as well as support for nonprofit organizations and other community initiatives. The coalition also recognizes the economic benefits that can be generated to businesses, both large and small, including job creation and marketing of products to consumers.

Sign Up L.A. will be active in the public dialogue as the city of Los Angeles considers a legislative solution to address the longstanding issues surrounding digital signage.

For a full list of Sign Up L.A. coalition members or for more information, visit: www.SignUpLA.com.

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